Alan Bernstein

As opposed to saying, Here's the facts as we know them today. This might change. And we've never encountered this virus before. We don't know whether lockdowns are good, bad, or indifferent. Here's the consequences of locking down, not locking down, et cetera. We needed some hubris here, some modesty, admission that we don't know everything. Science is based on evidence and facts.

How can you have evidence before the fact? So I think there was a bit of too much black and white, this is the way it is on the part of the scientific community. And so when we first said you should wear a mask, sorry, you should wash your hands and wash surfaces. And then weeks later, changed our minds and said, no, no, no.

How can you have evidence before the fact? So I think there was a bit of too much black and white, this is the way it is on the part of the scientific community. And so when we first said you should wear a mask, sorry, you should wash your hands and wash surfaces. And then weeks later, changed our minds and said, no, no, no.

How can you have evidence before the fact? So I think there was a bit of too much black and white, this is the way it is on the part of the scientific community. And so when we first said you should wear a mask, sorry, you should wash your hands and wash surfaces. And then weeks later, changed our minds and said, no, no, no.

Actually, you should wear a mask because this virus is an aerosol, not on surfaces. I think that caused a lot of lack of confidence amongst the general public about the scientific community.

Actually, you should wear a mask because this virus is an aerosol, not on surfaces. I think that caused a lot of lack of confidence amongst the general public about the scientific community.

Actually, you should wear a mask because this virus is an aerosol, not on surfaces. I think that caused a lot of lack of confidence amongst the general public about the scientific community.

So I'm a scientist, so I'll speak about the science. And you alluded to, David, the great strength of science is that it's not ideological. It's based on the currently available data or evidence. And so when scientists change their mind, The public still, despite the grade eight education that you refer to, the public still says, you're changing your mind. That's not good.

So I'm a scientist, so I'll speak about the science. And you alluded to, David, the great strength of science is that it's not ideological. It's based on the currently available data or evidence. And so when scientists change their mind, The public still, despite the grade eight education that you refer to, the public still says, you're changing your mind. That's not good.

So I'm a scientist, so I'll speak about the science. And you alluded to, David, the great strength of science is that it's not ideological. It's based on the currently available data or evidence. And so when scientists change their mind, The public still, despite the grade eight education that you refer to, the public still says, you're changing your mind. That's not good.

Whereas to the scientific community, that's what it's all about. That's the strength of science, not the weakness of science. It's not religion. It's not an ideology, political ideology. And so I think it goes back to how we teach science in schools. We teach it as a series of facts as opposed to the way to look at the world. and to change our minds as the evidence changes.

Whereas to the scientific community, that's what it's all about. That's the strength of science, not the weakness of science. It's not religion. It's not an ideology, political ideology. And so I think it goes back to how we teach science in schools. We teach it as a series of facts as opposed to the way to look at the world. and to change our minds as the evidence changes.

Whereas to the scientific community, that's what it's all about. That's the strength of science, not the weakness of science. It's not religion. It's not an ideology, political ideology. And so I think it goes back to how we teach science in schools. We teach it as a series of facts as opposed to the way to look at the world. and to change our minds as the evidence changes.

That's a great question. I think the right answer is it depends. We don't know what the Trump administration is going to do tomorrow, never mind five years from now. So I think we all wake up in the morning wondering what the news will bear about what the Trump administration is doing now.

That's a great question. I think the right answer is it depends. We don't know what the Trump administration is going to do tomorrow, never mind five years from now. So I think we all wake up in the morning wondering what the news will bear about what the Trump administration is doing now.

That's a great question. I think the right answer is it depends. We don't know what the Trump administration is going to do tomorrow, never mind five years from now. So I think we all wake up in the morning wondering what the news will bear about what the Trump administration is doing now.

So I think a lot depends on how long these cuts, I'll just use cuts or attack on universities and science, how long that goes on. and how deeply those cuts actually are in the end of the day. And I don't know the answers to either of those questions. I don't think anybody does. I don't think President Trump does. So I think how quickly things recover will depend on those variables.

So I think a lot depends on how long these cuts, I'll just use cuts or attack on universities and science, how long that goes on. and how deeply those cuts actually are in the end of the day. And I don't know the answers to either of those questions. I don't think anybody does. I don't think President Trump does. So I think how quickly things recover will depend on those variables.

So I think a lot depends on how long these cuts, I'll just use cuts or attack on universities and science, how long that goes on. and how deeply those cuts actually are in the end of the day. And I don't know the answers to either of those questions. I don't think anybody does. I don't think President Trump does. So I think how quickly things recover will depend on those variables.

And we don't know the answer. I do think that institutions take longer to recover than individuals. The thing we all need to remember is talent can move.